The Bæbes's first album, Salva Nos (1997), shot straight to No 2 in the classical charts, a silver disc. Subsequent albums include Worldes Blysse (which went straight to No 1), Undrentide, (co-produced by John Cale), The Rose, and the Christmas-themed album Mistletoe & Wine.
Mirabilis (2005), was launched at a concert and party in London, August 2005. A self-titled DVD was released in July 2006. The first 300 preorders were autographed by the band and received a special mention in the DVD credits.
A live album was be released in December 2006 and featured two bonus studio tracks, An Itunes exclusive was also launched which added tracks not featured on the cd release and at this time still remain exclusive so is well worth tracking down.
The new album entitled Illumination was released via preorder on the bands website in Oct 2008 and as an added incentive to fans features two bonus tracks not included on the regular wholesale edition which has a Spring 2009 official release date. There has been concerns over the mastering of the album from fans which could account for the delayed release dates.
Each album features traditional medieval songs and poetry set to music, mostly arranged by Blake specifically for the ensemble, alongside varying numbers of original compositions. They sing in a variety of languages, including Latin, Middle English, French, Italian, Russian, Middle High German, Welsh, Irish Gaelic, modern English, Swedish and the nearly extinct Cornish. Their vocals are backed by medieval instruments, including the recorder and cittern, played by the singers or fellow musicians.
One of the group's founding musicians, Dorothy Carter, died of a stroke in 2003 at the age of 68. In addition to playing autoharp, hurdy gurdy, and dulcimer with the group, she performed the lead vocals on So Spricht Das Leben (Worldes Blysse) and L'Amour de Moi (The Rose).
Emily Ovenden, who sings with the group, is the daughter of artist Graham Ovenden.
The Bæbes' musical pieces run the gamut from extremely traditional, such as their version of The Coventry Carol on Salva Nos, to songs that feel traditional but are much more modern, such as their rendition of Summerisle, a song written for Robin Hardy's 1973 cult film Wicker Man. John Cale added non-medieval instruments, including saxophone and electric guitar, to some of the arrangements on Undrentide, although with subsequent albums the band returned to more traditional instruments. Even with these instruments, however, the band's current style is quite different from medieval authentic performance groups, as it displays significant modern influence.
Current Band Members:
Katharine Blake (Contralto, Recorders, Violin, Piano), Emily Ovenden (Soprano, Recorders, Concertina, Percussion), Ester Dee (Soprano), Claire Rabbitt (Contralto, Piano), Bev Lee Harling (Alto, Violin, Citern, Recorders, Guitar), Melpomeni Kermanidou (Mezzo Soprano, Piano)
former Band Members:
Dorothy Carter, Karen Lupton, Nicole Frobusch, Nichole Sleet, Carmen Schneider, Claire Ravel, Ruth Galloway, Teresa Casella, Rachel Van Ash, Audrey Evans, Marie Findley, Cylindra Sapphire, Sophie Evans, Maple Bee, Sofia Escobar, Maxine Fone
Official website: www.mediaevalbaebes.com
Verbum Caro
Mediæval Bæbes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Verbum caro factum est de virgine Maria
In hac anni circulo
Vita datur seculo
Nato nobis parvulo de virgine
Nato nobis parvulo de virgine Maria
Et ad vitam revocat
Natus se deus collocat in virgine
Natus se deus collocat in virgine Maria
Stella solem pertulit
Sol salutem contulit
Nichil tamen abstulit de virgine
Nichil tamen abstulit de virgine Maria
Sine viri copula
Florem dedit ungula
Qui manet in secula cum virgine
Qui manet in secula cum virgine Maria
Die hac sanctissima
Omnibus dignissima
Nobis datur gloria de virgine
Nobis datur gloria de virgine Maria
The lyrics to Mediæval Bæbes's song "Verbum Caro" celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ from the Virgin Mary, expressing the miraculous nature of this event. The Latin phrase "Verbum caro factum est de virgine" translates to "The Word was made flesh from the Virgin," emphasizing the divine nature of Christ, who is considered the Word of God made manifest in human form. The lyrics further praise this momentous occasion as a gift to humanity, with the lines "Vita datur seculo" and "Nato nobis parvulo," meaning "Life is given to the age" and "Born for us a little child," respectively.
The song also acknowledges the many obstacles and challenges that the story of Jesus's birth overcame, such as the reference to "Quos vetustas suffocat," or "Those whom antiquity suffocates," suggesting the oppressive forces of the past that stood in the way of this new beginning. However, the song celebrates the triumph of goodness over darkness, as indicated by the lines "Stella solem pertulit," or "The star carried the sun," and "Sol salutem contulit," meaning "The sun brought salvation." Ultimately, the birth of Jesus represents a joyous moment of hope and renewal, as the final line declares, "Nobis datur gloria de virgine Maria," or "Glory is given to us from the Virgin Mary."
Overall, "Verbum Caro" is a beautifully crafted homage to the spiritual significance of Christmas, celebrating the miraculous birth of Christ and the hope and promise it brings to the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Verbum caro factum est de virgine
The word (of God) was made flesh from a virgin
Verbum caro factum est de virgine Maria
The word (of God) was made flesh from the virgin Mary
In hac anni circulo
In this annual cycle
Vita datur seculo
Life is given to the world
Nato nobis parvulo de virgine
Born to us a little child from a virgin
Nato nobis parvulo de virgine Maria
Born to us a little child from the virgin Mary
Quos vetustas suffocat
Whom the age suffocates
Et ad vitam revocat
And brings back to life
Natus se deus collocat in virgine
God himself is placed in (born of) the virgin
Natus se deus collocat in virgine Maria
God himself is placed in (born of) the virgin Mary
Stella solem pertulit
The star carried the sun
Sol salutem contulit
The sun brought salvation
Nichil tamen abstulit de virgine
Yet nothing was taken from the virgin
Nichil tamen abstulit de virgine Maria
Yet nothing was taken from the virgin Mary
Sine viri copula
Without union with a man
Florem dedit ungula
She gave birth to a flower by her hoof
Qui manet in secula cum virgine
He who remains forever with the virgin
Qui manet in secula cum virgine Maria
He who remains forever with the virgin Mary
Die hac sanctissima
On this most holy day
Omnibus dignissima
Most worthy for all
Nobis datur gloria de virgine
To us is given glory from the virgin
Nobis datur gloria de virgine Maria
To us is given glory from the virgin Mary
Contributed by Jeremiah D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.